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Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a
high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him.
Matthew 17:1–3
Jesus’ Transfiguration, which we celebrate today, is cloaked in
glory and mystery. Only Peter, James, and John were invited to
witness the event. One might think that if our Lord were going to
do something so spectacular, He would have invited great crowds to
ascend the mountain and witness the splendor of His divine glory.
Such a public manifestation would surely convince all who saw it
that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of God, the promised
Messiah. But that’s not what He did. Why not?
It is also quite mysterious that both Moses and Elijah were
present. These two figures were among the greatest spiritual giants
in the history of Israel. Why would they appear and converse with
Jesus? And why, when the voice of the Father spoke from the cloud,
were the apostles “very much afraid”? One might think that the
voice of God would inspire jubilation, not fear.
Though we often seek answers to such questions, it is sometimes
more fruitful to approach the mysterious aspects of Christ’s life
not as a problem solver, but in wonder and awe—acknowledging the
mystery as something glorious that will never be solved, only
entered into with admiration and love. Let us consider these three
mysteries of the Transfiguration through that lens.
First, consider the great blessing these three apostles received in
spending this sacred time with Jesus. They were given a glimpse of
His divine glory that undoubtedly strengthened their faith for what
lay ahead. Rather than focus on why others were not present, we are
invited to stand in awe of the grace shown to them and to recognize
that we, too, are invited through faith, contemplation, and the
Sacraments to ascend the mountain of prayer and behold the Lord’s
glory in hidden ways God ordains.
Second, rather than trying to figure out why Moses and Elijah were
present, consider the Transfiguration from their perspective. They
were privileged to speak to the Son of God face-to-face. Both had
encountered God on Mount Sinai (also known as Horeb), and now, once
again, they found themselves on a mountain, summoned by God, in the
Person of the Incarnate Son of God, to behold the fulfillment of
all they had proclaimed. It must have been an unspeakable joy to
witness firsthand the glory of the One whom they had
foreshadowed.
Finally, consider the holy fear that overtook the apostles at the
sound of the Father’s voice. Though fear may seem contrary to joy,
this was not fear of punishment but of overwhelming awe before the
mystery and holiness of God. It was the fear that arises when one
realizes he is standing in the presence of the Eternal. And when
Jesus touched them and said, “Rise, and do not be afraid,” He was
not dismissing that awe but transforming it into a confident love.
The mystery remained, but now it was a mystery embraced.
When you read Scripture, do you approach it more as a problem
solver or as a contemplative? While both approaches have their
place, the contemplative always draws us more deeply into communion
with God. Why? Because God is the greatest Mystery of all. He
cannot be reduced to concepts or fully grasped by reason alone. We
will never “figure out” God; we can only come to know and love Him
as He chooses to reveal Himself.
Reflect today on how you approach divine mysteries. Receive them
not merely with your intellect but with your heart. Savor what He
gives, treasure the glimpses of His glory, and remain in humble awe
before the mystery. For in reverent contemplation, we are not
solving God, we are being drawn into His divine life.
My Transfigured Lord, I stand in awe before You—before Your
majesty, Your glory, and the radiant splendor of Your divine
presence. I rejoice in the great Mystery of who You are. Grant me
the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, so that I may
enter more deeply into all the mysteries of faith. But above all,
fill my soul with wonder and awe, so that I may never cease to
marvel at You, now and for all eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: The Transfiguration of the Lord, by Dominicus Nollet
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